Penguins' Blake Lizotte out week-to-week with upper-body injury
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Blake Lizotte is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, impacting his availability for the upcoming season.
Quick answers
When is Blake Lizotte expected to return?
Lizotte is week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Penguins did not specify if he will miss any regular-season games as the season starts next Wednesday.
How does Lizotte's injury affect the Penguins' lineup?
Lizotte's absence leaves a notable gap in Pittsburgh's bottom six. His defensive play, coupled with a reliable faceoff percentage, will be missed as the team looks to maintain depth.
Pittsburgh Penguins injury news
The Pittsburgh Penguins are adjusting to injuries affecting their roster depth early in the season. Forward Blake Lizotte is now week-to-week with an upper-body injury, announced on Monday. Lizotte’s status is uncertain as Pittsburgh prepares to begin the 2026-27 NHL season next Wednesday.
Lizotte, 28, participated in practice with the Penguins on Sunday before being sidelined. His absence could impact the team more than expected, given his pivotal role as a bottom-six forward.
Lizotte’s significance to the lineup
Since joining the Penguins in 2024, Lizotte has established himself as a key player despite his place on the fourth line. In his tenure, he has tallied 18 goals and 39 points over 114 games with a +2 rating. Lizotte’s average ice time stands at 13:17 per game, reflecting his integral role.
His offensive stats alone do not fully capture his value. His defensive contributions were significant last season and arguably merited Selke Trophy considerations. He won 50% of his faceoffs and recorded a 91.6% on-ice save percentage while facing a defensive-heavy deployment.
Impact on the Penguins’ strategy
Lizotte’s injury creates a potential gap in Pittsburgh’s forward rotation. His dependency on being a steady defensive presence will challenge the Penguins in their depth planning.
Lizotte recently signed a three-year, $6.75 million extension with the team, aiming to stabilize this crucial role. However, missing significant game time could hinder his impact throughout the season.
Oliver Okuliar also sidelined
In addition to Lizotte, Oliver Okuliar is also out week-to-week due to a lower-body injury. Okuliar was not expected to factor heavily with the Penguins, likely slated for AHL duties regardless of his current injury.
The combination of these absences signifies a need for Pittsburgh to explore options within their roster during training camp. While Lizotte’s injury is of greater concern, Okuliar’s situation compounds the issue for the Penguins as they finalize their lines ahead of the season.
For related context, see latest NHL injury updates and recent NHL line usage.
Reporting for this story draws on Pro Hockey Rumors, Daily Faceoff.
Odds and market references describe the situation at the time of writing. You must meet the legal gambling age in your province or territory. See responsible gambling.